22-250 vs 220 swift
Ok I bought a 220 swift in the ruger m77 varmint. Really like the rifle, havnt shot it yet. Talked to some people and have gotten the response twice now that " why did you buy that obsolete round, all its good for is burning up barrels". Now in the next breath they praise the 22-250. Now I am but a simple shooter and really just dabble in it, Im not a hardcore reloading wizzard, but arnt they very similar in ballistics? Why the love for the 22-250 and the scorn for the "obsolete" 220 swift. I know the 220 is older than the 22-250. Just asking the experts on this view, Thanks.
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Your Swift is just fine. It will last if you don't load it full tilt. You might consider more new brass if it shoots good. I like a 22-250 because I could reform cases for it. I'm quite happy with my 222 noise and velocity wise. 0 -
Much of the bad rep on fast cartridges buring up barrels goes back to days when the quality of barrel steel and handloads aren't what it has become these days. The 220 swift wildcat goes back to then also and in some quaters the rep has stuck. Still, there is no question that fast cartridges are harder on thoat erosion and such, but you are correct that the 220 swift and 22-250 are pretty much comparable with modern loads and rifles. The one argueable area is that the 22-250 may be more accurate then the 220swift in that it can be used in a short action which can be stiffer and more accurate then the swift which need a medium or full 30-06 length action. Another long suffering discusion. Enjoy your swift it should be fun..... 0 -
What they said up there. the 22-250 had a handful of gun writers that talked it up over the 220, and opinion became fact. 0 -
I bought a 77V in .220 Swift long ago when it was said they were only going to make a few of them in the Swift. It's a "flat-bolt". I set it up with a then state-of-the-art Lyman 20X LWBR scope and it didn't disappoint; it's one of the most accurate rifles I own. However, another of the most accurate rifles in my collection is a .22/.250 in a then cheap Remington 788 that I equiped with a (again) then cheap Weaver K6. Quite a difference in the price of the two rigs in those days but no difference in group size and not much difference in velocity. As has been said, some gun writers gave the Swift a bad rap back in the day and there has been some carry-over to now. The fact is, both are great cartridges but if I had to start over and choose again one over the other; I'd go with the Swift.
EDIT: In handloading, the traditional powder for the Swift has been IMR4064 and it works well, however, in reviewing my notes, I used IMR4350 with 55 gr. bullets and Winchester 760 with the 60 gr. Hornady spire (the 60 gr. Hornady V-Max is a little too long to stabalize in the Swift's 1-14" twist).0 -
All answers spot-on, above. So..
Ferrari/Lamborghini/McLaren? It's all up to the driver.
Good analogy, I would imagine.
Best, and most of all, Enjoy!! Keep on driv'n, and keep on becoming more proficient with your excellent selection in hardware!
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The primary thing the .22-250 has of the Swift is availability of factory loads. The Swift has a bit more velocity with identical bullet weights over the .22-250. Both can be accurate, and (like any "overbore" round) both can burn barrels if a lot of rounds are shot through them. The projectiles themselves are the same for both, so if you roll your own, you're going to be just fine with the Swift. If you don't, the .22-250 would be easier to feed.
Both are very good what they do, accuratly sending small bullets at high speeds to vaporize varmints, coyotes and the like. Have fun with it!0 -
Both can burn up barrels, both are great rounds. Factory ammo for the 22-250 is more available. It it shoots good and it should, just don't shoot it so fast that you can fry eggs on the hot barrel. 0
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